Ruling a Fairy Tale Kingdom

After returning back to our fair city, we went our separate ways to pursue our various individual goals. Gilain spent his time in the tavern owned by Flora Kegtapper. Oewyn patrolled with Elyin and the Foresthawks. Leana visited the fey Nixie Melianse.

There was a stirring of unrest as commoners were upset some local trappers were found dead by the Foresthawks (failed roll 2 Unrest ,8 consumption, 21 BP to spend, claimed 2 hexes 1017 and 1119 and built farms in both for 6 BP, built 2 more granaries in Ologdal and Capital and a house in Ologdal. Recruitment was changed to normal. We failed the income roll, the Mivan trade caravan made it so we gained 1 BP).

The mangled bodies (1419, 1618) were not eaten nor was loot taken. Mysterious.

Another bar fight occurred with Akiros and a female dwarf who apparently lasted an impressively long time.

After dealing with personal matters we traveled to Restov to receive our well deserved accolades. Besides the Lord Mayor and his adjutant, there was a Consular from the Capital named Victor Surtova. He was there to insure that we were aware that it was the Kingdom of Brevoy, not the city of Restov, who was awarding the Barony.

In Restov there was a tension in the city. There were rumors that the Reagent (who was the head of House Surtova) was pushing towards becoming the actual royal ruler of the Kingdom.

When we returned we found there was a murder. Two days previous, livestock were slaughtered, that morning a local maid named Saki was killed and half eaten, last night a shepherd and a half dozen sheep were slain and half eaten. We suspect a werewolf. The last two nights were a full moon. Jhod seemed reluctant to believe this.

After procuring some silver weaponry, we went to the first site where the livestock were killed. There were no tracks to be found. The farmer heard wolf howls.

We went to the body of the maid and found a wolf print. We followed them until they disappeared and we found a bare human footprint. We followed these tracks back to town till they disappeared.

We split up then. One group staying in town to gather information, the other going to the site of the last killing. The group that went to the site found more wolf prints but nothing else. In town, we found out there was a local who recently returned to town who had been coming and going to town disheveled. He is staying at the Gilded Tankard (where the maid worked). We decided to investigate but not confront the man, so as to not cause a mob.

The dwarf and Akinos went inside and eventually got up into the man’s room. There they found a dismembered ear with an earing. This was identified to be Saki’s. It appeared he cleared out, but we got a description of the man. We instructed the town guard to look out for them and to give an alert if they spot him (they have whistles).

We split and scoured the town. Oewyn and Lod found the suspect first. The blew the whistle and Oewyn tried to reason with the man who was quite drunk. He managed to delay things long enough for help to arrive just as the man started to transform. A vicious fight followed, during which Solider died, and the werewolf himself grew large and glowed silver. When he fell he remained large and silver furred. Don’t werewolves become human again.

At the periphery of the fight there was a commotion among the town guard. Someone else had arrived.

Erastus (July) 4712 (continued)

Luckily, just outside town we run into Iola the wandering priestess of Desna.

Arodus (August) 4712

Kingdom Turn (1 week)

Loy recommends building a Noble Villa to live in for greeting visitors

Events: Relocate the Menhir to Priomdahl

Events: Leanna is thanked by a member of the populace and given an alchemist item: Hounds Blood

Events: Of note, this month 3 people died from duels.

Events: Now that Bokken’s hex is in our kingdom – we can dispatch NPC or Rangers to go pick up potions.

Event: Following the night of the new moon, the residents of Hex 1618 claim they saw a large (barn sized – huge or gargantuan) shape fly over that area. They think it was a dragon. Kaidan attempts to minimize the rumor. With a ruler roll, Kaidan makes some small speech and calms the populace. (He kept unrest from growing)

Event: Mivon supplies made it through this month. They are working on building a noble villa.

Exploration (1 week)

we dispatch some npc’s to get our potions from Bokken, should have them in a week.

Travel to Hex 1718 (1.5 days)

While traveling through 1618 – the people share all of their problems. The further south we get, the more reports we get of night time harassment – things going missing – things broken or destroyed. One thinks that kobolds are behind his problem.

Explore Hex 1718 (1 day)

Evening of the .5 day of the explore – Alexi thinks that we are being trailed by more than one thing. We try to find a good defensive camp site. We spot a spire or tower towards night fall. It is a ruined watch tower – made of stone – 2 stories. It is collapsed on one side. Maybe a watch tower of some type. Alexi, Kaidan, Gillain do a quick explore of the tower to make sure nothing is nesting there.

Rubble covers a hole in the floor and there is a rotten smell. Walls are soot stained.

On the second floor, Alexi find a tarnished/blacked badge – Taldorian in nature (from south of the river kingdoms). Scattering of bones and rusted armor. Parts of 5 different skeletons.

Oewyn hears about half a dozen things moving in the darkness. We move the horses into the tower and prepare.

Combat

9 x Kobolds (CR)

We kill 5 and capture 1 and 3 run away from the side of the tower the three of us were defending (Alexi, Kaiden, and Gilain).

We question the captured kobold and then let him go. Bounty on non-Blood maw tribe. His chief is south and west across the river and is allied with Hargulka (troll leader).

Gilain looks down the hole see what’s down there. Dessicated arms sticking up from the rubble. He has a brief confrontation with 2 zombies.

Combat

2 x Zombies (CR)

During the search of the rest of the hex, we find scattered ruins of a village. Looks like there was alot of fire damage.

Travel to Hex 1719 (1 Day) – During travel, Oewyn spots 4 mounted (man sized) riders on a ridge that note us and then ride off.

We camp for the night.

Explore Hex 1719 (1 Day) – during the day – we come across a craggy, broken ravine. We spot the carcass of a dead horse – half eaten – has reins tied to a low tree branch. Alexi hears a cry in a language he can’t understand.

Alexi, Gilain and Kaiden head into the ravine. As we move in, we hear the cries and is plaintative and weak. We come upon a split in the side of the fissure that goes into a tunnel (triangular). We find a stitched hide shoulder bag. After Gilain and Kaiden entered the tunnel a rock side blocks the tunnel separating them. They investigate further in and find a corpse and then are attacked.

Lion with the head of a badger and legs of a goat. Size of a horse. One attacks Alexi and Socks out in the ravine too

Combat

2 x Leucrotta (CR5)

As the one facing Alexi gets ready to flee, 4 arrows hit from 4 mounted riders above to kill it.

The 4 strangers have foreign features. Feathers and bear skins.

Tentatively ID’d as members of the Ughar Clans, an Insular people that live to the Southeast of the kingdom.

Erastus (July) 4712 (continued)

Day 1- During Hex 1516 Watch 3 – half inch of snow fall accumulated. It melts quickly in the early morning of travel. The bloomed trees are not affected.

Day 2- During Hex 1515 camp – it snows again.

Day 3 – Travel to the Autumn Grove – We encounter Falchios on the way to the grove.

We share news of the trolls and Hargulka.

Party with Satyr and them

Day 4 – Recovery from Party

There are ruins (non-fae) – Hex 1614

Unaffiliated Fae – do not bend their knee to Tiressia’s Lady – (No name given) – The Dancing Lady – Last one Falchios has seen – Tioralen (thin elf with bark like skin, sharp teeth and poisonous claws) (Tone from Tiressia indicates she will not share any details on the Dancing Lady for now)

Combat

Camping that night, during watch 3 – Oewyn sees a large shape break the surface of the Tuskwater and then submerge.

.5 + .5 Day – Travel to 1716

Camping that night, Leanna will mem 2 x Water Walks

.5 Day (14 Days) – Travel to Witches Hut

We share some news and give her 13 Rattlecap

Reward: 1300 gp

Oewyn asks about the neon green mushroom (sleep)

In the morning, the Old Beldame says that she did some consultations last night – what Oewyn encountered is called a ‘Bloom’. It is something when the first world forces itself to be coterminus with the prime material plane. It was a weak version. The weakest ones mimic powers/effects associated with the fae. Bloom’s have anchoring points that can be destroyed. Anchors are distinct from the surrounding area. The last Bloom event she has information about was over 1000 year ago.

Two Weeks of Exploration

Back in the Capitol, the fisherman Arvin seeks us out – he gives us a ring from the stomach of a pike

Spend the rest of the day in town (.5 days)

Local couple – the Tannerson’s track down Oewyn – their son has gone (Tig – about 10) – lost near the river to the west – gone missing to the west.

The next morning we head across the bridge of the Skunk River and start searching for the boy using tracking. Oewyn finds a simple sewn doll of a bear. Based on the direction we found the doll, we believe the child was traveling south.

We spend a day traveling south (1 day) – we find some bits of clothing torn on some thorns. This takes us into Hex 1617.

We make camp that night. during third watch – there is a deep moan that carries over the night air. It echoes for about 8 to 10 seconds. Oewyn thinks it does not sound like a natural creature. Sounds like towards the coast.

The next day, Oewyn and Kaiden find foot prints – normal sized human an child sized. Not moving fast. About 24 hours old. We continue heading where we think we need to go.

We come to a marsh and make our way into it. In the middle of the marsh, there is a hillock. 80 ft wide. At the top is a waist high fence, then bog grass and then a house. The fence itself has a bunch of fetishes. There is a crow cawing from the top of the hut. There is a scarecrow propped up – possibly a garden in there. Oewayn went catatonic and when Alexi started to swing behind the scarecrow – hostilities ensued.

We then knock on the door and then Ava opens the door. Simple one room house. Bubbling cauldron. Reed pile. There is a child – sleeping/unconcious in the reed pile.

Those that don’t denigrate her call her the Old Beldame.

The cost to fix the construct is 8k.

While we wait for the child to wake (2 hours), some of us try to clean up the mess in the garden.

The child wakes up. He does recognizes Kaiden and Gilain and that mollifies the Old Beladme. It’s late afternoon and we head out with the promise of payment.

It takes us (1 day) to travel back to the capital and return Tig to the Tannerson.

A total of 5 days of 14 has gone by.

Travel from the Capitol to Hex 1617 (1 day) – We get there in the evening. We bring the Old Beldame our restitution (8k). We do get a rep bump. She let’s us camp (not in the garden) within the walls. Leanna asks about the un-natural cold in the forest. This region has particularly thin walls (between the planes) and this was one of the residents of the first world crossed over from. Their influence has always been strong her. The forest itself is alive. The more time you spend in it, the more it changes you.

She needs us to harvest some plants – possibly kill some things. Some mushroom – black rattlecaps. She uses them to brew teas. There is a location to the south of the Tuskwater. There are likely mobile plant things. (Hex 1717)

Hex 1617 Exploration

(1 day) We search Hex 1617 – We find boars.

Camping that night – during second watch – a half dozen birds agitate and fly through the camp.

(1 day) We travel to Hex 1616 and then camp.

Camping that night, there are no encounters.

Hex 1616 Exploration

(1 day) Begin hex exploration of 1616. While searching the hex, Oewyn comes across a skeleton – human. The bones looked gnawed. We do a quick buddy – spiral search. Oewyn (and buddy) find another skeleton – chewed. Kaiden and Leanna also find a similar skeleton. We continue to find more skeletons. They seem to be in an ‘arc’. We head towards where we would find the center of the arc.
*Another hour or two, we find ourselves at a huge oak tree and under the canopy is a ‘clearing’. This tree looks to be naturally hollow at the bottom. Most of us dismount and we search for tracks. Oweyn find booted, medium sized footprints and animal tracks (medium sized cats).

We start about 50 ft from the tree. As Oweyn approaches, a shape moves out from the hollow in the tree (cat) and we hear a growl. Oweyn attempts wild empathy. A loud voice calls out, “What the hell you guys trying do to my cat?” Gilain tries to make nice.

He share news of a Lizard Tribe to the south and a grouchy Witch woman to the East. Fae to the north.

We agree to camp here. He contributes some jerky to the stew. Oewyn convinces him that his graciously allowing us to camp here is enough.

We camp overnight with watches. During 2nd watch, something happens. Out of the darkness, the cat attacks Ava.

Combat

1 x Hermit

1 x Cat
4 hexes explored
bokken quest completed

Total xp award was 134 xp shy of making level 5. DM in his wondrous generosity awarded etra to make threshold. Ding level 5 for the party. Enjoy.

Desnus 4712 (May)

Ava and Kaidan – Battered, weary travelers. Traveler from Varnhold (to the east) – Looking to see about establishing trade route. Brought gift as well – stock from his vinyards. Varn’s Vinyards. 12 bottles. We’ll want to prepare a gift to send to Varn at some point. Target 1320 as a connector for trade to Varnhold. – Vincent Dutrait

Alexi – Missive from Yuri Maximov

Gilain – There was a large brawl – caused damage. 30 people involved. Kesten (General) was knocked out. Source of much of the unconscious – traveling mercenary – Akiros. Fines. Each to train the militia for a week. Show who each other is better. Gilain and Akiros to have a fight at the end of the week.

Outbreak of anti-fae muttering (+1 unrest).

Gilain is called 2 days laters to a body. He died due to the magic item we sold. We pay 5 BP in restitution.

Kesten and Akiros have the militia showdown during the week. Akiros wins.

Gilain and Akiros have their brawl at the end of the week. Kaiden detects evil within the crowd and finds a few people that stand out. He notes them and asks Alexi to investigate them.

Neth 4710

Svetlana has a child. Leanna acts as midwife along with Jhod. Oewyn and Kaidan keep Oleg busy during child birth. She has a daughter named “Sarah Leanna Leveton”. We are all named god parents of the child.

Kuthona 4710 through Calistril 4711

The party had down time activities and works on their affinities with various NPCs.

Pharast 4711 to Calistril 4712

Kabran arrives with a caravan from Restov to Oleg’s and we head down to the Stag Lords lands. (72 BP; 4 of which is reserved for the Shrine of Abadar)

We spend all of Pharast clearing the land and preparing it for a settlement.

A year of kingdom building occurs.

Pharast 4712

A normal kingdom month occurs with a dream for Kaidan at the end.

The party spends time exploring some hexes.

Hex 1518, Hex 1618, Hex 1619, Hex 1519

In Hex 1519 we find a Barrow and investigate. We run into a trap, 2 bat swarms and 6 skeletons.

Erastus 28 4710

We perform a quick search of Devon and Stag Lord for potions. Devon has none and the Stag Lord has two. We aren’t able to identify them.

Oweyn and Ava will watch over Auchs and the tied up, unconscious Sneed (whom we recovered and tied up).

The rest of us proceed down into the ground after Akiros points the way.

A moldy room full of stolen loot with three arch ways leading away.

Down below, we find a ravening druid of some sort in wolverine form.

On the plaster down below is some graffiti.

We then secure and loot the facility.

We destroyed leather mask and several dozen fetishes.

We go back and get our horses and wagon and return.

We sleep for 8 hours and about noon we attempt to break our curse. It doesn’t work here. We think it’s because it isn’t the river.

We dig and bury the bodies. Say a short service.

We sort the loot and audit it and put it on the wagons and horses.

Arodus 1 through Arodus 5

Travel to Hex 1320 – Nettle’s Crossing

Over the course of that week, Kaidan shares some stories about Alexi from their youth with Ava and the group.

Arodus 6

With a little ceremony, we throw the Stag Lord’s body into the river. After a few moments, the undead rises and addresses us and then departs. We are free of his curse. Then some water diverts and washes upon the shore. After the wave passes, there is a ranseur stuck into the ground.

We recover the ranseur.

Arodus 7

Explore the rest of hex 1320.

Arodus 8 to Arodus 15

Travel to Hex 1216 – Temple of the Elk Lord to talk with Jhod, the Erastil Cleric. Kaiden and Ava convince Jhod to take Auchs in for now.

Arodus 16 to Arodus 20

Travel back to Oleg’s outpost.

Casten Garus is very happy to see Sneed being returned. He then has him strung up.

As a reward, he’ll arrange to have 4 master work weapons sent down. (Currently: 2 x Daggers, Light Crossbow, Greatsword)

Arodus 21

Kedain is one year older. We liquidate some of our stock with Oleg to travel lighter and then head to Restov.

Arodus 21 to Arodus 26

Travel to Restov. We show up at the mayor’s place to inform him we have fulfilled our charter. We meet with an assistant and convey our evidence. They will need to send someone down to the Stag Lord’s fort to verify before we’ll get our reward.

We spend the evening selling.

Arodus 27

We spend a day of downtime shopping. We each get a chance to buy one item.

PARTYSPLIT: 1908 gold 2 silver

Arodus 28 to Rova 8 (4.5 + 4.5)

Travel from Restov back to Stag Lord’s fortress with Edian Trosky, the messenger.

The messenger Edian investigates and agrees the bandits are dealt with.

Rova 9 to Rova 17

On the way through Oleg’s, Alexi get’s his 4 masterwork weapons.

Travel back to Restov. The mayor’s assistant extends an invitation to a ceremony for tomorrow. Some of us go and buy some appropriate clothing.

Rova 18, 4710 – Day of the Ceremony

This is in the same structure that the original ceremony was at.

We recognize a number of the participants from the original ceremony.

We note the presence of Varn’s group and Drelov’s group. Also, all the people that gave us our ‘side quests’.

Josef Solamis addresses us. Three groups are in attendance. The fourth group they were not able to get in time for this ceremony. Some of us get the impression that there was something he did not say.

Of those here, all the charter’s have been met with some degree of success and so the venture is over.

He will start with Drelov’s party. They mapped successfully, but they were unable to fully resolve the swamp land trade issue.

Varn’s group explored their region and pushed back some of the centaur territory. The centaur’s had been raiding into Brevoy. (The raids had been usually after some conflict from Brevoy – young Brevoy proving their manhood by raiding the centaurs.)

Our group explored our region as well tracking and exceeding what we were called to do to deal with the source of the brigands.

An aide presents to Varn, Drelov, and Kaiden and gives us each a small coffer. (It’s 5000 gp).

PARTYSPLIT: 833 gold and 34 silver

The party then get’s fully under way within mingling.

Kaiden – Josef shows up. Pleased with how we handled things. They are looking to take this further. Looking to establish a colony in the region. Based on our groups success, he would like me to lead the effort. They will give us some resources and some settlers that would like a new start. Come spring, some supplies and settler’s would be sent down. We could take the winter to review the lands and decide on where we would settle. I should check with my companions to see who is interested. Academy Graduate – an architect for planning and development.

Gilain – Has a discussion. +4 BP in the spring and additional manpower to make one extra building during first month.

Alexi – Has a discussion. +3 BP in the spring

Leana – Has a discussion. Resources will be sent down in spring. +5 BP in the spring

Oewyn – Has a discussion. +2 BP in the spring and 4 BP for constructing a shrine to Abadar. Needs to be built in first year.

Kaiden approaches his cousin and then the rest of the party about the opportunity to found the colony under Kaiden’s leadership. They all appear interested. He would like them to act as the core of a council.

Kaiden has a discussion with Quiznost Hufflegem. +4 BP in the spring

About a half hour later, Josef meets with Kaiden. What would autonomy would we have? They are not actively supervising us. It is for Brevoy’s benefit (not Restov). The other groups have been made similar offers for their regions.

Kaiden will be knighted and made a Baronet.

The three leaders are presented to the party. Phase 2 of the plan. The three of us will be knighted.

Erastus 27 (continued)

We have just finished defeating the zombies. We take a few quick moments to heal and proceed to the indentation. We’ll need to dig it out. We send Oewyn and Soldier back to the wagon to get a pick and shovel. It will take them about 50 minutes. We huddle up quietly at the base of the wall.

Oewyn makes it back safely and Gilain and Ava start digging. It takes about 3 minutes of sweaty work. They hit something hard. After some scrapping, there is a stone trap door. Possibly was a bolt hole.

We try to lever it up. At first, the stone gearing shrieks loudly, then Alexi steps in and helps.

We climb down 10 ft down and go through a tunnel for 30 feet then there is a passage up with hand holds. We attach a rope to a lever on the stone trap door. We all pull and eventually get the trap door open. Gilain climbs up and steps into a room. He sees someone who says, “You should tread carefully from this point forward.”

His name is Akiros. The group falls into negotiation with him. When he sees Kaiden’s holy symbol, his demeanor worsens “Erastilites!” Alexi tries to sway him to our side. He succeeds in getting him to stand aside and do nothing for 100gp. We’ll renegotiate after we take the keep. Kaiden keeps quiet to avoid antagonizing Akiros. He does think Akiros has a Taldan accent.

During the negotiations he reveals Falgrim Snead (the Varisian) is in the second watch tower.

Alexi moves up the stairs stealthily and tries to get a stealthy attack off. Combat ensues.

Combat

Bandits x 7 CR 1/3

Girly Man – Devon x 1 CR 2

Shambling Man – Auchs1 CR 2

The Stag Lord x 1 CR 6

Owl Bear – Beaky x 1 CR 4

Recruited Akiros x1 CR 3

Total XP 6545, 1091 each.
During the initial stages of the combat, Akiros offers to join us for a full share. Kaidan accepts.

During the fight, we accept the surrender of Shambling Man. After a zesty fight, we defeat the Stag Lord.